Power-assisted steering system or power steering system

Abstract

In a power-assisted steering system or power steering system having an electric motor, which drives a worm gear mechanism that has a composite gear wheel in the form of a worm wheel, the worm wheel includes a ring gear connectible to a hub via a first disk, and an annular projection of the first disk axially engages with the ring gear.In order to improve the centering of the component parts of the composite gear wheel in the tangential direction, and in order to render the power transmission in the gear wheel uniform, the annular projection on the first disk is provided with one or more depressions in the axial direction to form tooth-like projections, which form a drive-type toothed section and engage with depressions on an axial side face of the ring gear.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a power-assisted steering system or power steering system.BACKGROUND INFORMATION[0002]In power-assisted steering systems or power steering systems having an electric motor, which drives a worm gear mechanism that includes a composite gear wheel, e.g., having a plastic ring gear, the composite gear wheel may ensure a high degree of running smoothness with high economic efficiency, when the worm gear mechanism has large dimensions and is paired with metallic wheels having a high degree of edge smoothness. Composite gear wheels are conventional.[0003]PCT International Published Patent Application No. WO 01 / 44694 describes a composite gear wheel, which is suitable for a worm gear mechanism of a power-assisted steering system or power steering system, having a two-piece ring gear that is screwed onto a hub. The hub has an annular flange on one axial end. The ring gear is form-locked to the hub by a disk, which is positioned in ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]Example embodiments of the present invention may provide a composite gear wheel for power-assisted steering systems or power steering systems having an electric motor that drives a worm gear mechanism, so that the assembly of the gear wheel may be simplified and the power transmission in the composite gear wheel may be uniform.

[0007]Since the annular, axial projection of the disk has a depression in the axial direction and a keyed connection in the tangential direction is rendered possible at an axial side face of the ring gear by a projection and by a depression, a centering aid which may allow simple, rapid assembly of the composite gear wheel may be provided in the tangential direction between the disk and the ring gear. For example, when a plurality of depressions are provided, it may be possible to achieve uniform torque transmission between the hub, disk, and ring gear, distributed over the circumference of the disk.

Problems solved by technology

The individual component parts and, in particular, the threaded bolts are not self-centering, which is why the power transmission in the composite gear wheel and the assembly sequence of the composite gear wheel are not optimized.

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